Emperor and empress watch table tennis matches at Japan Games

Aomori – Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched on Sunday table tennis matches at the Japan Games multisport festival in Aomori Prefecture.

The imperial couple watched matches for boys and girls, held at a gymnasium in the city of Aomori, the capital of the prefecture.

“Japanese athletes are doing well,” the emperor said, referring to the good results achieved by Japanese participants in the Asian Games held mainly in Aichi Prefecture between September and earlier this month according to an official who accompanied the imperial couple.

In the quadrennial sporting event, Japan earned 269 medals, ranking second after China, which won 341 medals.

Later on Sunday, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited a beach created at a former berth used for a ferry service that had connected Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido, and the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, which features exhibits related to Aomori’s traditional Nebuta festival.

Watching a large exhibit at the museum, Empress Masako said, “It’s powerful.”

The emperor and the empress then visited a local welfare facility and watched older people and children playing with a ball together.

“It’s wonderful that you are enjoying interacting (with children),” Emperor Naruhito told an 87-year-old woman.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visit the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse in the city of Aomori on Sunday. | JIJI